Irish based Cuban sensation Luis “El Leon” Garcia says he is ready, willing and able to accept a fight with Britain's Gold medallist, James “Chunky” DeGale if a clash between DeGale and domestic rival George Groves can't be made.
Degale's promoter Frank Warren made Groves a written offer today for the fight to take place in the UK on December 11th and set DeGale's London rival a 48 hour deadline to accept or reject the fight. However Garcia says he wouldn't need any time to sleep on it. “I would accept that fight in a split second,” said Garcia. “I could get some Christmas shopping done in London and show Chumpy DeGale what professional boxing is all about so it sounds like a fun weekend to me.
Politics in Cuban boxing's amateur system intervened to ensure that DeGale and Garcia didn't meet at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with Garcia overlooked for the Olympic team in favour of Emilio Correa who would eventually lose out to DeGale in the Olympic final.
“Correa's father was a Gold medallist in the 1972 Olympics and he is a powerful figure in amateur boxing in Cuba so it was no surprise to me that I was overlooked for the 2008 Olympics in favour of his son,” explained Garcia. “I should have gone to that Olympics but it wasn't to be so now I am concentrating on my professional career. DeGale would not have beaten me in Beijing and he certainly would not beat me now but if he wants to prove me wrong then that's not a problem although I'm not expecting a written offer any time soon! I'm pretty sure DeGale won't want any part of me.”
Still only 22 the prodigiously talented Garcia has raced to 9 straight wins (7 inside the distance) since relocating to Cork and turning professional in 2008. On October 2nd he will look to extend his perfect run to double figures when he takes on Uruguay's Jorge Rodriguez Olivera (20 wins, 1 defeat) on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night at The Aura in Letterkenny. Unbeaten Derry man Paul McCloskey headlines as he defends his European Light Welterweight title against Barry Morrison with Garcia a special attraction on the undercard alongside compatriot Alexei Acosta, another undefeated Cuban based in Cork.
Promoter Brian Peters believes that Garcia is the brightest talent in World boxing. “There is no doubt about it Garcia is a very, very special talent and to be honest I'd put him in with any super middleweight or light heavyweight in the world right now,” said Peters. “In his last fight he made a tough, seasoned danger man like Christian Cruz look like a novice and Cruz had previously lasted into the twelfth round with current IBF Super Middleweight Champ Lucien Bute and in to the tenth with current WBC Light Heavyweight Champ, Jean Pascal. I believe it's only a matter of time before Luis is one of the sports biggest names.”
The Hunky Dorys Fight Night on October 2nd also features unbeaten Cavan star Andy Murray taking on Dominican Republic dangerman Johnny Nolasco with Dublin's unbeaten featherweight prospect, Patrick Hyland also in action alongside reigning Irish Heavyweight Champ, Coleman Barrett, Mayo's unbeaten Super Featherweight Finbarr Eade, Dublin propsect Brendan Fitzpatrick and the professional debut of Donegal's own Michael McLaughlin.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced from €40 are available from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300, The Aura, Letterkenny: 074 9106422, The Radisson Blu, Letterkenny: 074 9194444, Eurospar, Dungiven: 028 77741245 or Julie, Dungiven: 07745 698372.
